Metabolic Responses to a Battling Rope Protocol Performed in the Seated or Stance Positions

Brewer, W, Kovacs, R, Hogan, K, Felder, D, and Mitchell, H. Metabolic responses to a battling rope protocol performed in the seated or stance positions. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3319-3325, 2018-The purpose of this study is to compare the levels of oxygen consumption and heart rate responses elicited by a treadmill or cycle V[Combining Dot Above]O2max test with a standing or sitting battling rope protocol (BRP) (treadmill vs. standing BRP) (cycle vs. seated BRP). Forty healthy subjects performed either a ramped V[Combining Dot Above]O2max treadmill or cycle test. At least 3 days later, the subjects who performed the ramped treadmill test did the standing BRP, and the subjects who performed the ramped cycle test did the sitting BRP. Each BRP consisted of 10 sets of 15/45 seconds of work/rest for 10 sets. V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak and HRpeak were recorded. Metabolic responses were significantly lower for the sitting BRP and standing as compared to the HRmax and V[Combining Dot Above]O2max values derived from the bicycle and treadmill tests. The BRP produced a V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak that was 71.87% (sitting) and 68.37% (standing) of the subjects' V[Combining Dot Above]O2max assessed u the bicycle and treadmill protocol. Moderate correlations were found between the V[Combining Dot Above]O2 during the seated (r = 0.61; p = 0.003) and standing (r = 0.43; p = 0.03) BRP and the bicycle and treadmill V[Combining Dot Above]O2max tests, respectively. The HRpeak elicited by the BRP performed in sitting (r = 0.52; p = 0.009) and standing (r = 0.67; p = 0.001) had a moderate correlation with the HRmax derived from the bicycle and treadmill tests. Battling ropes may be a low cost, accessible option to improve cardiovascular endurance for individuals who cannot stand or move their lower extremities in a rhythmic manner to conduct aerobic exercise.